Supplements
Terms for understanding supplements: servings, preparation forms and label information. Individual substances are listed under Ingredients, and botanical raw materials under Plants and extracts.
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Read a supplement description alongside its label, considering not just an ingredient name but also its form and amount in the recommended serving. This category explains daily servings, extract standardisation, nutrient reference values and the units commonly used on packaging. The definitions help distinguish the weight of a complete blend from the amount of a selected substance and compare products containing different numbers of capsules. You will also find terms describing product formats and the ways formulation information is presented. A prominent number on the front of a pack does not always refer to one capsule. Check which serving the figures describe and whether they refer to a raw material, an extract or a measured constituent within that extract. Supplements complement the diet; these definitions do not attribute disease-treatment properties to them.
Found: 30 of 30 terms
Amount of extract and amount of active substance
The extract weight includes the entire extract, not just the compound indicated in the standardization. For example, 100 mg of an extract standardized to 10% of a compound corresponds to 10 mg of this compound, if this is how the percentage basis was determined.
Extended description →Anti-caking agent
An ingredient limiting the clumping of powder particles and helping maintain flow during production or storage. The term describes a technological function rather than one particular substance. The actual compound is identified in the preparation's full composition.
Bioavailability
A term describing the degree and rate at which a substance becomes available in the body after administration. It depends, among other things, on its chemical form, product recipe, method of consumption and characteristics of the person. The declaration of high bioavailability alone does not determine the health benefit. A comparison makes sense when it concerns a specific ingredient and is based on appropriate data for a given form.
Extended description →Bulking agent
An ingredient helping achieve the required volume, mass and manufacturing properties of a tablet or mixture. It need not be the substance highlighted in the product name. The mass of the complete tablet can therefore differ from the active amounts listed in a table.
Capsule shell
The outer part of a capsule enclosing its contents. It may be made from gelatin or a suitable cellulose polymer, for example. Shell material is distinct from filling composition. A plant-based shell alone does not establish that the whole product is vegan or has a particular release profile.
CFU
Acronym for colony forming units. In preparations with microorganisms, it is used to express the number of living units capable of growing under specific test conditions. A high CFU count does not in itself mean benefits. Strains, portions, storage conditions and whether the declaration refers to production or the end of shelf life are also important.
Extended description →Chelate
A compound in which a metal ion is bonded to an appropriate molecule in a specific structure. In supplements, the term refers to selected forms of minerals. It is not an automatic guarantee of the highest absorption, tolerance or advantage of each product.
Extended description →Chemical form of an ingredient
The specific compound in which an ingredient occurs in a formulation, such as a mineral citrate rather than its oxide. Form information complements content information. The mass of the whole compound and the amount of the element it supplies can be different values.
Citrate
The name of a salt or compound related to citric acid, for example magnesium citrate. The word itself does not indicate the type of mineral. The mass of citrate and the amount of the element supplied are different values on the label.
Extended description →Combining supplements
Using more than one supplement at the same time. It requires summing up repeated ingredients and taking into account medications, diet and contraindications. A larger number of preparations does not mean a better effect.
Extended description →Consistent supplement use
Systematically taking the supplement in accordance with the label and individual recommendations. It does not justify exceeding the daily dose or doubling it after skipping use. The purpose and duration of use should be carefully considered.
Extended description →Daily serving
Amount of product intended for consumption during the day in accordance with the labeling of a given supplement. It may include several capsules, a specific number of drops, or a measured amount of powder. It is worth distinguishing the composition of one capsule from the amount in the entire daily dose. When combining preparations, it is necessary to take into account repeated ingredients; a larger number of servings does not equal a better effect.
Extended description →Dietary supplement
A food intended to supplement the normal diet, being a source of nutrients or other substances with a specific physiological effect. It may be in the form of capsules, tablets, drops or powder. It is not a medicine and does not replace a varied diet. When choosing, the composition, quantity per serving, intended use and information and restrictions given on the label are important.
Duration of supplement use
The period for which a supplement is taken, based on its intended use, instructions and individual circumstances. How long a pack lasts and advertising claims about when effects appear do not automatically determine the appropriate duration of use.
Extended description →Excipients
Ingredients with technological roles in a preparation, such as forming a shell, assisting manufacture or maintaining a mixture's properties. They are not unnecessary merely because they are absent from an active-ingredient table. Their names belong in the complete ingredient list.
Glycaemic index
A measure comparing the blood glucose response to a specified amount of available carbohydrate from a food with a reference under defined conditions. It does not independently account for normal serving size or the whole meal, so it is not a complete nutritional assessment.
HCl — hydrochloride
A note denoting the hydrochloride form of a given compound, for example L-arginine or berberine. It is not the name of a separate plant extract. When comparing quantities, it is worth determining whether the declaration concerns the weight of the salt or the indicated substance itself.
Ingredient carrier
A material or system holding another substance to facilitate formulation, distribution or stability. Different ingredients can serve as carriers. Mentioning a carrier alone does not establish improved bioavailability or the effect of a finished product.
Liposomes
Fine structures made of lipid layers, used in some recipes to transport other substances. The term liposomal describes the method of preparation of the product, not the individual vitamin or nutrient. The quality of such systems depends on the specific technology and durability of the formula. The name itself does not allow us to determine what part of the ingredient the body will actually use.
Multi-ingredient formulation
A formulation containing several highlighted ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals or extracts. The number of entries is not a quality assessment by itself. Comparison requires considering ingredient forms, quantities and recommended serving size rather than list length alone.
NRV — nutrient reference value
Reference intake used on labels to present the content of selected nutrients. The RWS percentage shows how the amount of a given ingredient relates to the value used for labeling. It is not an individual recommendation or upper safe limit. The lack of an established RWS for a plant extract does not mean that it can be taken in any amount.
Extended description →Number of servings per package
The quantity in a pack divided by the stated serving size. For example, 60 capsules with a daily serving of two capsules provide 30 daily servings. Capsule count alone does not establish how long a pack lasts.
Extended description →Probiotic strain
A more precisely defined entity within a microbial species, usually identified by an additional code. The genus or species name itself does not indicate the strain. Conclusions about one tested strain should not automatically apply to all bacteria with a similar name.
Single serving
Amount of product taken at one time according to the method of use. It does not always correspond to the entire recommended daily amount. The table of ingredients should be read taking into account what portion it describes.
Extended description →Standardization
Determination of the content of a selected ingredient or group of compounds in the raw material, often given as a percentage. It facilitates the comparison of extracts if they concern the same substance and the same determination method. An example is the information about the share of withanolides in ashwagandha extract. Standardization does not mean complete identity of recipes or an automatic guarantee of product effectiveness.
Storing supplements
Compliance with label conditions, including temperature and protection from moisture or light. The refrigerator is not a universal place for all preparations. Additional rules may apply once opened.
Extended description →Supplement dosage form
The form in which a supplement is supplied, such as capsules, tablets, drops or powder. It determines how servings are taken and measured, but does not by itself establish effectiveness, absorption or product status.
Extended description →Supplement drops
Liquid supplement taken in the number of drops indicated on the label. Requires the correct dispenser and recommended method. There is no universal conversion of drops into milliliters for each formulation and each package.
Extended description →Taking a product with food
An instruction relating the use of a particular preparation to eating. It may reflect product properties and intended use. It is not a universal rule for every supplement, and the directions for one formulation should not be transferred to other preparations.
Taking supplements with water
Take the capsule or tablet with water as directed on the label. Liquid quantity and conditions apply to the specific product. Do not arbitrarily substitute alcohol, energy drinks, or any other form of intake for water.
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